The statewide smoking ban has been a long time coming for state Rep. Charlie Brown (D-Gary) and its other supporters, and their recently achieved but not-quite-complete ban is perhaps the Waterloo of their opponents.
But the partial ban requires continued vigilance. Two of the exemptions in the new law — exempting casinos and various private social groups — are understandable, but still unfortunate. The 18-month transition phase for bars, though, seems unnecessarily long.
Brown was being magnanimous when he said that “realistically, bars are not going to be able to do this overnight.”
But it isn’t clear why not. There’s nothing special that needs to be done — no special renovations, facility upgrades, technology to be purchased. It is, literally, something that can be done overnight.
The “compromise,” which, by all accounts, was politically necessary, suggests that proponents of the smoking ban will need to remain watchful in coming sessions to maintain the ground they’ve gained.
Meanwhile, bar owners have the chance to look at the 18-month “transition” as an opportunity. Going smoke-free early — even, yes, overnight — could be turned into a competitive advantage, an opportunity to build clientele that might remain loyal once the ban goes into effect everywhere.
If policymakers stay vigilant and business owners are aggressive, the Legislature’s curious compromise could become both the beginning of the end for workplace smoking, and the start of a new opportunity for bar owners to draw loyal customers.